power steering problem

[Stunt'nSlide]

My power steering used to work great and then I was drifting one day and all of a sudden my steering got hard to steer. I looked under the hood and say PS fluid coming out of the PS fluid cap. I filled it back up and it still doesn't have power steering. When I turn it doesn't make any noise it's just really hard to steer. What could it be?

[Frank_Jaeger]

My power steering used to work great and then I was drifting one day and all of a sudden my steering got hard to steer. I looked under the hood and say PS fluid coming out of the PS fluid cap. I filled it back up and it still doesn't have power steering. When I turn it doesn't make any noise it's just really hard to steer. What could it be?
Make sure the thingy's plugged in / not corroded. It's near the air filter, for the power steering system.

With your car running, take out the filter inside the power steering reservoir and make sure you can see fluid moving around. Your pump might be toast. This is probably the case.

I would tell you to check the belt, but if that's gone so is your cooling, and I'd like to imagine you haven't been driving around with no cooling.

[Stunt'nSlide]

Make sure the thingy's plugged in / not corroded. It's near the air filter, for the power steering system.

With your car running, take out the filter inside the power steering reservoir and make sure you can see fluid moving around. Your pump might be toast. This is probably the case.

I would tell you to check the belt, but if that's gone so is your cooling, and I'd like to imagine you haven't been driving around with no cooling.

Ok I took out the filter in the reservoir and it the fluid just stayed in the same spot and it was low. where is that plug your talking about?

[fliprayzin240sx]

Pumps probably dead...change the pump and see how that goes.

[Frank_Jaeger]

Pumps probably dead...change the pump and see how that goes.

This. Although it's possible you could mistake the fluid for not moving at low levels, you'd definitely hear the air getting sucked in.

Also for reference the plug is located just to the left of the air filter (assuming you're standing on the driver side of the bay). It should be red, and if you follow it down it goes to your high pressure steering hose.

DO NOT ROUND OFF YOUR HARDLINE FITTINGS WHEN YOU CHANGE THE PUMP. Also note they don't screw in all the way, even if you see thread, if the nut doesn't turn anymore it's in.